EPIDEMIC DISEASES

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 75

EPIDEMIC DISEASES

DIPHTHERIA AND SCARLET FEVER INTERVIEW WITH MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH. On Thursday our representative interviewed Dr Cook, medical officer of health for the Otago-Southland district, concerning rumours of a number of diphtheria and scarlet fever cases in and around Dunedin. Dr Cook said scarlet fever and diphtheria have been the main epidemic during the last year. The figures for scarlet fevei' for the last three years are:— ■ 1928 .630 1929 601 1930 405 It is to be noted that there were 200 fewer cases notified during 1930 than in 1929. Both diseases belong to the group which is spread by discharges from the throat and nose. The infection is kept alive mainly by typical cases, by mild and unrecognised cases, and by carriers. Scarlet fever of the type reported recently has been mild and not the disease it was 50 years ago. Children nowadays suffering from a mild form of the fever have slight sore throats, and nothing more. They walk about in an infectious state, and spread the trouble in school and in the community, though their parents do not know they are suffering from it. We only know of these cases because the children have mild sore throats, and it is during this initial stage they are infectious; then they peel, but this stage is probably not as infectious as it is generally thought to be—indeed, some people say that peeling is non-infectious. This the control of scarlet fever difficult/ Much depends on early recognition, prompt isolation, and disinfection of houses. All these three procedures have been carried out to the best of the department’s abilities, and it is satisfactory that the number of cases of scarlet fever was considerably fewer in 1930 than in either of the two preceding years.

It is less than 10 years since the specific organism of scarlet fever was discovered, and at the present time there is still no practical and quick method of detecting it. If a method were known carriers could easily be detected and isolated, and the incidence of the disease would decrease still more.

Diphtheria is a disease of the same nature as scarlet fever, and is spread in the same way. The notifications for the last three years were:—

1928 18 1929 '. .. 49 1930 ~. 60 It will be noted that diphtheria has increased slightly. This can probably be accounted for by the fact that no immunisation has been carried out on school children, who are more susceptible than other classes of the population. With a slight increase in incidence there has also been an increase in virulence, and despite modern methods of treatment there have been several deaths from this malady. The discovery of carriers is a comparatively easy matter in the case of diphtheria, and during the last three months numerous carriers who have not suffered from the disease have been discovered and isolated, with gratifying results. The number of swabs examined to date in this year is 2115, which w : ll give an indication of the activity displayed by all branches of the preventive service.

During the last three mouths a mild epidemic of typical diphtheria has been experienced, but everything is being done by the department to keep it down. The following methods have been adopted by the department to prevent the disease getting out of control: — (1) Recognition and isolation of cases; (2) finding and quarantining of carriers; (3) active control and swabbing of contacts; (4) use of anti-toxin on the first appearance of the symptoms. The attention of parents is drawn to the importance of early medical attention to children suffering from sore throats. Time is an important factor. The secret of success in the modern treatment of diphtheria lies in the early administration of anti-toxin.